Composite wheel cover

ABSTRACT

A wheel cover is disposed on the axial outer face of a vehicle wheel which has a wheel flange. The wheel cover is of the composite type and comprises an annular ring of one type material. The annular ring has a rim portion disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the wheel flange. The rim portion has formed on its outer surface a plurality of receptacles each of which receive a retention clip of another material for mechanically interlocking the retention clip to the annular ring. The retention clip is engageable with the wheel flange for mounting the wheel cover on the vehicle wheel. The annular rim also has formed thereon an annular lip for receiving an ornamental cover of yet a different material than the annular ring and retention clip.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 251,674, filed Apr. 6,1981 abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 093,427,filed Nov. 13, 1979, abandoned.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the composite wheel cover described in myco-pending application, Ser. No. 065,632, filed on Aug. 10, 1979, andassigned to the assignee of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicle wheel trim assembliesand, more particularly, to trim rings and wheel covers. Within thisfield of invention, the present invention, more particularly, relates toimprovements in securing spring retention clips to such wheel trimassemblies.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many problems have been encountered with trim rings and wheel covers andtheir attachment to vehicle wheels. The operative part that places theprimary role in effecting this attachment to the vehicle wheel is thespring retention clips which must, on one hand, be of resilient materialand, on the other hand, must be incorporated and integrated into themanufacturing of the trim ring or wheel cover, as the case may be,without undue expense or complication. In the past, the spring retentionclips were formed of the same material as the trim ring and wheel coverwhich, in many cases, was stainless steel. This resulted in substantialwaste of material as well as a relatively inferior spring retentionclip.

With this problem in mind, many prior art patents sought to resolve thebasic problem with spring retention clips by providing multi componentwheel trim assemblies. Typical examples of these prior art wheel trimassemblies are as folloows:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,945,348, 2,304,583, 2,410,174, 2,431,338, 2,493,001,2,544,705, 2,581,424, 2,581,425, 2,713,517, 2,714,041, 2,827,332,2,828,160, 2,939,744, 3,043,632, 3,071,416, 3,168,349, 3,425,747,3,703,318, 3,746,397, 3,757,400, 3,771,834, 3,794,385, 3,868,147,3,973,801, and 4,131,322.

None of these patents have achieved a highly reliable multi componentwheel trim assembly which results in a highly effective and resilientspring retention clip which is inexpensive to manufacture and can beeffectively and efficiently integrated with the high volumemanufacturing techniques employed in manufacturing products of thistype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a wheel coverdisposed on the axial outer face of a vehicle wheel having a wheelflange. The wheel cover is of the composite type and comprises anannular ring of one type material. The annular ring has a rim portiondisposed in a plane substantially parallel to the wheel flange. The rimportion has formed on its outer surface a plurality of receptacles eachof which receive retention means of another material for mechanicallyinterlocking the retention means to the annular ring. The retentionmeans is engageable with the wheel flange for mounting the wheel coveron the vehicle wheel. The annular rim also has formed thereon an annularlip for receiving an ornamental cover of yet a different material thanthe annular ring and the retention means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel coverwherein the annular ring is formed from a strip material into a closedloop, the ends of which are mechanically interlocked one to the other byspot welding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel coverwherein the strip material is galvanized steel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel coverwherein the retention means is a retention clip which is received inreceptacles provided on the annular ring and is formed from annealedspring steel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wheelcover wherein the annular ring has formed thereon a radially projectinglip. An annular ornamental cover formed from stainless steel ismechanically interlocked to said annular ring by deforming the annularornamental cover about the radially projecting lip.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a wheel coverwherein the rim portion has formed on its outer surface a plurality ofreceptacles each of which slidably receive a spring retention clip formechanically interlocking the retention clip to the annular ring. Thespring retention clip is engageable with the wheel flange for mounting awheel trim assembly on the wheel. The receptacle includes two opposedradially outwardly extending and circumferentially facing tabs and aradially outwardly extending and axially inwardly facing stop tab allformed by upsetting the tab material from from the annular ring. Thespring retention clip has an arcuate base portion whose arc correspondsgenerally to the arc of the outer surface of the annular ring. The baseportion of the spring retention clip is received by the receptacle suchthat each end thereof is captured and guided by the tabs. The stop tabcaptures the base portion of the spring retention clip along its bottomedge.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following specification, claimsand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front of the wheel trim assembly inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the wheel trim assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line III--III in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the spring retention clip ofthe wheel trim assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the spring retention clip.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the spring retention clip of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the spring retention clip to beassembled with the wheel flange.

FIG. 8 shows the spring retention clip engaged with the wheel flange ofthe wheel trim assembly of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a wheel trim assembly 10embodying concepts of the present invention. The wheel trim assembly 10comprises a multiplicity of parts which will be discussed further belowand this multiplicity of parts will enable the manufacture of the wheeltrim assembly 10 using high volume manufacturing techniques. The wheeltrim assembly 10 is provided with an annular ring 12 having several rimportions including first rim portion 14 and second rim portion 16. Therim portions 14 and 16 provide, among other things, structural integrityto the overall wheel trim assembly 10. As can be seen from the drawings,the planes of the rim portions 14 and 16 are substantially parallel tothe central axis of the wheel trim assembly 10. Further, as beforementioned, the wheel trim assembly 10 is adapted for assembly on theaxial outer face of the vehicle wheel 18 and, accordingly, the rimportions 14 and 16 will be generally parallel to the axial plane of thewheel flange 20. On further inspection, it can be seen that the firstrim portion 14 is disposed slightly angularly inwardly with respect tothe plane of the wheel flange 20.

The first rim portion 14 of the annular ring 12 has provided thereon aseries of receptacles 22 and such receptacles 22 are disposed around theouter circumference of the first rim portion 14. The receptacles 22 areformed from the material of the annular ring 12 and, more particularly,the first rim portion 14 thereof. This would be accomplished by usingsuitable dies to upset the various components comprising the receptacles22. More particularly, the first rim portion 14 has formed therefrom twoopposed radially, outwardly extending and circumferentially facing tabs24. In addition to the tabs 24, there is also formed from the materialof the first rim portion 14 a radially outwardly extending and axially,inwardly facing stop tab 26. A material that is particularly suited forthe manufacture of the annular ring 12 including the first rim portion14 at the same time affording the necessary structural integrity to thewheel trim assembly 10 is galvanized steel, ASTM A525, which may be ofthe type G115 and may have a gauge of approximately 0.22 (0.0299inches). The utilization of galvanized steel reduces the cost of thematerial yet at the same time provides for the necessary performance andmanufacturing characteristics particularly suitable for the manufactureof the wheel trim assembly 10. It may also be added that the annularring 12 may be formed from a single strip of such galvanized steel andmay be formed in a closed loop, the ends 28 of which could beinterlocked or fastened to each other by suitable means such as spotwelding or the like.

Referring again to the receptacles 22, they are particularly adapted toslidably receive a spring retention clip 30. The spring retention clip30 is provided with two basic portions; a base portion 32 and a topportion 34. As can be seen, the base portion 32 is formed in an arcwhich generally corresponds to the arc defined by the outer surface ofthe annular ring 12 and, more particularly, the first rim portion 14thereof. The spring retention clip 30 is mechanically interlocked to thefirst rim portion 14 by slidably inserting the spring retention clip 30into the receptacles 22. As the spring retention clip 30 is so insertedinto the receptacles 22, the tabs 24 will capture and guide the springretention clip 30 into the receptacle 22. As the spring retention clip30 is fully inserted within the receptacle 22, the base portion will befurther captured by the stop tab 26 and ultimately the base portion 32will butt up against and be stopped by the stop tab 26. The springretention clip 30 is further provided with at least one locking tab 36and, as shown in the drawings, there are two such locking tabs 36, oneprovided on each side of the spring retention clip 30. The locking tabs36 are formed by the deformation of the spring retention clip 30 and areupwardly facing with respect to the first rim portion 14. Ultimately,the locking tabs 36 will biasingly register with the openings 40, suchopenings 40 are caused by the upsetting of the tabs 24.

The face 38 of the locking tabs 36 will lockingly engage the inwardlydisposed periphery of the openings 40 in the first rim portion 14. Ascan be seen from the drawings, the stop tab 26 is centrally located withrespect to the tabs 24. The base portion 32 of the spring retention clip30 is provided with two axially projecting legs 42, the inwardly facingsurfaces of which engage and extend beyond the centrally located stoptab 26. Accordingly, in its fully inserted state, the spring retentionclip 30 is firmly, mechanically interlocked to the first rim portion 14within the receptacles 22. The spring retention clip 30 will be heldfirmly against the first rim portion 14 and will not move axially orradially even under significant dynamic forces encountered duringoperation of the vehicle with which the wheel 18 is associated. Thespring retention clip 30 is further provided with a semi circular topportion 34.

The semi circular top portion 34 terminates in a reverse turned toothedportion 44, the teeth 46 of which may be formed in a pattern generallydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,286 to Gibbings. The semi circular topportion 34 basically acts as a biasing or spring member to biasinglyforce the teeth 46 of the toothed portion 44 into frictional engagementwith the inner surface of the wheel flange 20 to, thereby, maintain theposition of the wheel trim assembly 10 on the vehicle wheel 18. Toachieve the desired spring and mechanical interlocking characteristicsof the spring retention clip 30, the spring retention clip 30 may bemanufactured from a suitable material such as annealed spring steel, SAE1065, (MS 42), heat treated by hardening and tempering to a Rockwellhardness to approximately 48-50. The surface of the spring retentionclip 30 may be treated with a 0.0002 cadmium plate which would suitablywithstand the adverse environmental conditions experienced by a vehiclewheel. The spring retention clip 30 so manufactured would typicallywithstand a 96 hour salt spray test.

The wheel trim assembly 10 may be in the form of a wheel cover or trimring as those terms are commonly defined and used in the trade. To thatpurpose, the annular ring 12 is provided with an outwardly facingradially projecting lip 48. The lip 48 will further enhance thestructural integrity of the annular ring 12 and will provide the furtherpurpose of effecting the means by which the trim ring or wheel cover maybe fixedly attached to the annular ring 12. More particularly, the wheelcover or trim ring which are typically manufactured from stainless steel(both not shown) could be attached by the deforming of the outer annularportion of their material about the radially projecting lip 48 tomechanically interlock one to the other.

As can be seen from the above, the wheel trim assembly 10 utilizesdifferent materials for its various component parts, thus achieving bothefficiency in the manufacturing process as well as effective costcontrol with respect to material costs. As can be further seen from theabove, the present invention utilizes a new, unique and advanced conceptin attaching the spring retention clip 30 to the annular ring 12 withoutthe use of complex rivets or welding techniques.

While it will be apparent that the invention herein disclosed is wellcalculated to achieve the benefits and advantages as hereinabove setforth, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim:
 1. A wheel cover disposed on the axial outer face of a vehiclewheel having a wheel flange, said wheel cover being of the compositetype comprising: an annular ring of one type material; said annular ringhaving a rim portion disposed in a plane substantially parallel to saidwheel flange; said rim portion having formed on the outer surfacethereof a plurality of receptacles each of which receive retention meansof another material for mechanically interlocking said retention meansto said annular ring and said retention means being engageable with saidwheel flange for mounting said wheel cover on said vehicle wheel; saidannular ring is formed from a strip material into a closed loop; theends of said closed loop are mechanically interlocked one to the other;said ends of said closed loop are interlocked one to each other by spotwelding; said strip material is galvanized steel; said retention meansis a retention clip; said retention clip is formed from annealed springsteel; said annular ring has formed thereon a radially projectingannular lip, an annular ornamental cover of a different material thansaid annular ring and said retention means being mechanicallyinterlocked to said annular ring by the deforming of said annularornamental cover about said radially projecting lip; said ornamentalcover is formed from stainless steel; said receptacle including twoopposed radially outwardly extending and circumferentially facing tabsand a radially outwardly extending and axially inwardly facing stop taball formed by upsetting said tab material from said annular ring; saidspring steel retention clip having an arcuate base portion whose arccorresponds generally to the arc of the outer surface of said annularring; said spring steel retention clips having at least one locking tabformed by upsetting the axially inner edge of said locking tab in aradially inwardly direction; said base portion of said spring steelretention clip being received by said receptacle such that said lockingtab thereof is captured and guided by one of said opposed tabs by way ofsaid locking tab being biasingly registered with one of the openingsformed in said rim portion resulting from the forming of said opposedtabs and said stop tab capturing said base portion of said spring steelretention clip along the axially outward edge thereof.